The Department of Religious Studies and Philosophy

Sub-Syllabi

 

I. Ravenna in the Sixth Century: Barbarian Kingdoms

 

II. Aachen in the Ninth Century: Carolingian Renaissance

 

III. Paris in the Thirteenth Century: The High Middle Ages

 

IV. Oxford in the Fifteenth Century: Universities and Heresy

Popes, Cathedrals and Heretics: The Age of Faith --1/2 Credit

This interdisciplinary course considers the culture of Europe from the end of the Western Empire to the Reformation, a period during which the dominant culture thought of itself as Christianitas, a Latin word meaning both Christianity as a religion and Christendom as a political entity.

The course will focus on four time periods: the early sixth century, during the Gothic kingdom in Italy; the late eighth century, during the Carolingian Renaissance; the mid-thirteenth century, at the height of Scholasticism; and the late fourteenth century, when John Wyclif was one of the harbingers of the Reformation. We will investigate sixth-century Ravenna, ninth-century Aachen, thirteenth-century Paris and fourteenth-century Oxford. Quizzes. papers, and a group project should all be expected.

In general, you should be able to answer the following questions about each period:

• How does this culture deal with the cultural inheritance of the late Roman Empire?
  • In philosophy and theology: use of Plato? of Aristotle? of the Fathers?
  • In politics: What names/structures/offices does this culture retain from the Empire? How does it depict itself to other nations?
  • In art and architecture: What images / themes are repeated? What use is made of spolia?
• What are this culture's innovations? What motivates them?
  • In philosophy and theology: new ideas? new methods?
  • In politics: new offices or structures?
  • In art and architecture: new motifs or forms?
• What is the role of the Church in government? the arts? education?

You are also responsible for knowing many of the technical terms we'll use in the course. Here is a list of general terms ; there are also specific lists on the several sections of the site.

You are also responsible for being able to find on a map the following: Constantinople, Rome, Ravenna, Aachen, Paris, London, and Oxford.